BERKELEY, Calif. - No. 3 Stanford split two games on Saturday at the MPSF Invitational, defeating No. 5 UC Santa Barbara before suffering its first loss to No. 2 USC.
The Cardinal will face the loser of UCLA and California on Sunday at 11:30 a.m.
No. 3 Stanford 12 - No. 5 UC Santa Barbara 10
The Cardinal shot out to a 3-1 lead with before UCSB tied the game at three.
From there, the game was back-and-forth until the final minute. The Cardinal continued to hold off the Gauchos, but never got any breathing room until Tyler Abramson made it 12-10 with 49 seconds left in the game.
Stanford scored five goals off the powerplay and held UCSB scoreless in the fourth period to seal the win.
No. 3 Stanford vs. No. 15 UC Santa Barbara
Sept. 25, 2021 • Berkeley, Calif.
UCSB 4 – 3 – 3 – 0 = 10
STAN 5 – 3 – 2 – 2 = 12
UC Santa Barbara Goals: Leo Yuno (4), Cole Brosnan (2), Nathan Puentes (2), Sam Nangle (1), Spencer Wood (1)
Stanford Goals: Tyler Abramson (3), Quinn Woodhead (3), AJ Rossman (2), Troy Gleason (1), Beck Jurasius (1), Ike Love (1), Larsen Weigle (1)
Saves: Nolan Krutonog (11), Danny Roland (7)
No. 3 Stanford 13 - No. 2 USC 15
A slow start doomed the Cardinal as the Trojans shot out to a 9-3 lead before halftime.
From there, Stanford had to play catch up, featuring three straight goals to make it 12-8. The two traded goals from then on out before two scores late from Stanford to make the final tally 15-13.
Nolan Krutonog and Liam Harrison split duties in goal.
No. 3 Stanford vs. No. 2 USC
Sept. 25, 2021 • Berkeley, Calif.
USC 5 – 4 – 4 – 2 = 15
STAN 2 – 1 – 6 – 4 = 13
USC Goals: Jake Ehrhardt (3), Max Miller (3), Hannes Daube (2), Jacob Mercep (2), Wyatt Barker (1), Marcus Longton (1), Tom McGuire (1), Ashworth Molthen (1), Chris Sturtevant (1)
Stanford Goals: AJ Rossman (3), Walker Seymour (2), Larsen Weigle (2), Quinn Woodhead (2), Tyler Abramson (1), Beck Jurasius (1), Ike Love (1), Jackson Painter (1)
Saves: Nolan Krutonog (2), Liam Harrison (2), Nic Porter (9)